Nigerian makes US Most Wanted List over $1m fraud

Onoriode Ezewu, a Nigerian, has been added to the United States Department of Labour’s inaugural Most Wanted List due to alleged money laundering linked to fraudulent unemployment benefit claims amounting to over $1 million. The department’s Office of Inspector General released the list on Wednesday, featuring 16 individuals wanted in various fraud, identity theft, money laundering, labour trafficking, and other offences, which collectively involve more than $55 million allegedly stolen from American taxpayers.

According to the agency, the charges against Ezewu include concealment money laundering, and he is believed to be currently in Nigeria. In January 2021, Ezewu faced 15 counts of concealment money laundering tied to fraudulent Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims filed using stolen identities, involving a scheme exceeding $1 million that also involved the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.

Ezewu violated the conditions of his pre-trial release, leading to an arrest warrant being issued against him. US Department of Labour’s Inspector General, Anthony P. D’Esposito, announced the list to intensify efforts to locate the fugitives and recover the stolen funds. D’Esposito emphasized that the agency is collaborating with the White House Fraud Task Force to locate the individuals on the list and recover the stolen money.

The department aims to engage the public, media, online platforms, and international partners to assist in locating the fugitives and ensuring that every stolen dollar is accounted for.